UPLAND>> When the Perry family opened Klatch Coffee 20 years ago in Rancho Cucamonga, coffee shops were just starting to appear in the Inland Empire.

Two decades later, the family-owned and -operated company has grown to include three retail location in the Inland Empire, one in LAX and a recently opened store in Seoul, Korea.

The wholesale side of the business is also growing, providing Klatch coffee to coffee shops locally as well as internationally.

“It’s just a fun adventure to see how the industry changes, how peoples’ habits change and how you just evolve along with them,” said Heather Perry, vice president and daughter of founders Mike and Cindy Perry. “We are not the same company we were 20 years ago. I think a part of the success is a willingness to adapt and change and constantly trying to improve. We’re always striving to do better.”

The family will be celebrate its success by hosting “Klatch Coffee-Con” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at its Upland Roastery, 1848 W. 11th St.

Families and coffee lovers can enjoy demonstrations, a build-your-own bar station, games, free espresso drinks and nitro cold brew as well as raffles and prizes.

Mike Perry spends several months of the year traveling to countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama to meet with local coffee bean farmers and tasting their product.

The company takes pride in creating ongoing relationships with farmers in order to continue providing high quality coffee to their customers.

Through Direct Trade agreements, Klatch is able to purchase coffee from farmers with exceptional product at higher value than fair trade.

“That separates us from Starbucks is the way we purchase our coffee, what we look for and ultimately the quality. It has to be a good cup of coffee,” Heather Perry said.

As part of the direct trade agreements, Klatch helps ensure the farmers they work with give back to the community.

For example, in El Salvador, Klatch put 25 cents of every pound into a separate fund which helped pay for sports equipment and even a clinic on the farm from which they purchase coffee.

The farmers in El Salvador have been experimenting with their product which gives Klatch’s customers a unique product.

“We’re not just buying coffee and selling it,” Heather Perry said. “We look at what can we do differently with the coffee not only once we get it. What can we do differently before we get it to make it more interesting and create a story behind it.”

Mike Perry has no plans of becoming a large chain like Starbucks and would like to open only one or two more retail locations.

“Our real vision is to grow the wholesale business and help other people have their dreams like we did when we started,” he said.

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